grand theft auto 4

So there were lines at the stores at midnight on April 29, wanting to be the first people to own this highly successful video game.

Let me state very clearly that I don't play video games and I don't own a video game machine, but I do know about this game and it makes me sick.

What is wrong with our world when this comes out and there is not one word of complaint anywhere in the mainstream media?

As I understand it, during the course of this game you can pick up a prostitute; have sex with her and then beat her to death with a baseball bat! I also understand you can set fire to a cop to kill him. And apparently there is more of this garbage.

Why are we so surprised when things go wrong with our society when people - seemingly normal people - sit in front of this for hours and hours and some even admit that if they get in their cars afterwards, they have some kind of buzz.

When I was growing up, TV Tennis had just been invented. You know - the rectangular bat and the square ball going back and forth against a friend or the machine. I never really got that either because for me, it was much more fun to actually GO to the tennis court and PLAY tennis.

But that game was of course nowhere near as insidious as this one. I'm sure that some of this makes me sound old, but I can tell you that neither of my two girls own a games machine or play video games either. And due to their ages (17 and 19), this is actually their choice - not mine.

Now do I think that the vast majority of people who play this game will go out and emulate it? No of course not, although I do think some will. The problem is that games like this make these types of crimes more acceptable to us. We are no longer shocked when we see them on our TV News.

Every step we take into this fantasy world is a step that we can't take back. When I was growing up in the 60s and 70s, life was not like this. There were no "pimps and ho's" parties at college. College suicide rates were substantially lower than they are now. We MUST take our country back. We MUST start to understand that these things ARE important.

When we continually say "it's just a movie" or "it's just a video game" or "It's just a song", then we give away a little bit more of ourselves.

I am not saying that these things should be removed from our shelves. This is America, but I simply do not understand. Someone explain to me what is entertaining about this?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(Copyright © 2008 By Simon L Conway All Rights Reserved.)

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Posted by Simon Conway on 05/01/2008 09:52 AM   Comments (43)   grand theft auto iv, sick  
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43 Comments on Grand Theft Auto IV - WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE??

20 Most Recent Comments Displayed Show All

MAY
01
2008
842,602 Points 85 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master
I gotta tell you, that generally I don't have a problem with violence, but I do have a problem with sex.  But we came from a real close family and the violence was only seen in boxing, shoot em up movies etc.  The real problem is that families are so disfunctional that kids don't have a great home base and these sort of products mess with kids and young adults who never had any foundation to begin with.  It's too bad these games are available to all despite what the rating says....and it's too bad that these games can really affect people in a Columbine sort of way.
11:25pm • #24
MAY
02
2008
404,039 Points 16 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Larry H - good for you!

Larry B - this is a long way from boxing or shoot em up movies.
7:44am • #25
558,038 Points 6 Featured Posts Outside Blog

There are a lot of kids out there that don't have the loving support that I am sure your family has.  It is something else to see the kind of crap that these video game companies come up with. 

When I was a kid when we weren't playing baseball or basketball outside, we were playing Intellivision baseball and football on the TV set.  (It did get kind of addictive too.)
9:13am • #26
100,660 Points
My 10 year old asked me to buy this. I told him I would burn it if I found it in my home. I bought Pac Man instead. That is what I grew up on.
10:26am • #27
122,952 Points Localism Sponsor

Simon - the game you describe is called Pong....and back in the day it was the greatest invention!  I feel that part of the reason no one complains about GTA4 is because most people don't play or care for it.  There was a big fuss with versions 1 & 2 due to the violent nature but that subsided.  Like you I don't own a video game and rarely play.  The few people I know who game don't go for GTA.  I may be wrong about it's true popularity but I don't hear much of it.

 

 
1:44pm • #28
399,140 Points Outside Blog
I did love pac man back in the day but only as a bar game I never owned a video game
1:51pm • #29
1,009,432 Points 13 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog
I have never seen this game but I am sure hearing a bunch about it and my wife shared with me that Glenn Beck did a show about it. 
2:06pm • #30
MAY
03
2008
404,039 Points 16 Featured Posts Outside Blog
Sam - it amazes me that not that many people get it.
8:47am • #31
MAY
04
2008
 My favorite video games ran the gamut from Pong to Dig Dug to Tron. Hey, pinball is pretty cool. GTA is trash. 
5:34pm • #32

Simon:

I don't have a problem with shoot 'em up games.  I grew up playing cops and robbers and cowboys and indians.  This game is totally wrong.  Burning up policemen and hitting prostitutes with ball bats after you have your way with them just ain't right.  And I guess it instills in them that stealing cars is alright.
6:20pm • #33
MAY
09
2008

Didn't read all the comments, but this just bring back to mind a news video clip I saw yesterday.  Summary: a 7 year old stole his grandmother's SUV went joy-riding, smashed several cars and other property and ended up destroying the SUV.

His comments: "I wanted to do it 'cause it's fun!  It's fun to do bad things... drive into a car."  When asked if he knew he could kill somebody, he responded, "Yes.  But I wanted to do some hood rat stuff with my friends."

When asked if he thought he should be punished for it he said, "Just a little bit.  No video games for whole weekend."

Police officer clarified to him, "Now, you understand that your Grandmothers going to have to pay to have those cars fixed."

Boy: "Yes." 

Officer: "Because you hit those cars."

Boy: "Can my Mom help her?"

For some reason, I strongly suspect his mother won't be too pleased.  But she probably won't make the connection between his video games and choice of friends and the way he behaves and makes decisions.  After all, she'll say, he's only seven!
11:45am • #34
MAY
12
2008
967,251 Points 60 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Simon:  I really have to agree with you on this.  Why parents allow this kind of trash into their homes is just beyond belief.  The problem I see is that if you run something horrible and trashy, all the killing and violence in front of our kids eyes long enough... they begin to become desensitized to it... and slowly it becomes almost "normal" to them.  Parents need to be aware of this trash.  I cannot believe that they can really "know" what is in these "games", and still allow their kids to play them.

By the way... the tennis game you described was called "Pong," I believe.  And the last video games I played were Frogger and Ms Pac Man... and those were with my daughter when she was in her teens.  She is 35 now.  I guess I'm just a wild and crazy woman.
1:13am • #35
967,251 Points 60 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

The nonsense that "it's just a movie" or it's just a video game, or even it's just a song... rap or otherwise.  How can parents swallow that stuff ?  How can kids say that and still keep a straight face.  I think kids and those who play these games will only realize how serious this is... when their lives are personally affected.  Like one of their teens get attacked, and the attacker was a video freak, just as their own kids were.

So, what's the answer ?  Maybe a ratings system with real, monster teeth in it ?  And I mean "monster" teeth.  Fines... heavy fines.  And... if the kids get caught, the parents are totally liable for allowing their kids to bring this stuff into their homes.
1:18am • #36
122,952 Points Localism Sponsor

Despite the hoopla surrounding GTA4 and kids, I believe the majority of purchasers/players are adults.
2:56am • #37
MAY
14
2008
459,700 Points 5 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router Attended Rain Camp

It iis indicative of our overall society...most parents probabably don't care :(
8:01am • #38
JUL
11
2008

Aren't all the things your complaining about happening every day? Rapes robberies and murder? I am trying to remember yes, yes there was murder and mayhem before TV and video games. Sorry but just about every game that came out after Pong had some aspect of violence to it. Oh and last time I checked on Animal Planet the lions were eating the gazelle's. Did not even have the decency to incapacitate it first just started eating at its entrails all the while the gazelle is screaming. Now there is some violence for you! So please explain to me where all this violence comes from?
J ryan
4:10pm • #39
404,039 Points 16 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Well J Ryan - you had to go back to May to find this post so well done for digging it up again. Unfortunately you didn't read it once you found it. I asked someone to explain to me the entertainment value of picking up a prostitute; having "sex" with her and then beating her to death with a baseball bat! I also understand you can set fire to a cop to kill him. So J Ryan - you up for the challenge of explaining what is entertaining about this?
9:58pm • #40
AUG
07
2008

I'm a 19 year old girl. I've graduated from high school. I have a good job. I respect police. I don't steal.

In my free time though, why shouldn't I play this game? Just because I steal cars in a game doesn't mean I'm going to in real life.

Ultimately, stop worrying about your child unless they start asking you how to build pipe bombs.

Not everyone who plays these games is going to go join a mafia. Half of them are just geeks who like to escape the reality of their lives for a while. And there's nothing wrong with that.

Sure, if you're child is under the age of 15 then that is just bad parenting. Buy them a Wii. Games are not to blame. If your child starts stealing cars, then don't blame Rockstar or Microsoft, really

 

You are to blame.

 

 
I play this game and I love it!
8:50pm • #41
AUG
08
2008
404,039 Points 16 Featured Posts Outside Blog

OK "I play this game and I love it" - same challenge to you. Explain to me the entertainment value of picking up a prostitute; having "sex" with her and then beating her to death with a baseball bat! And after you've done that, tell me about all the laughs you get from settingfire to a cop to kill him.
1:00pm • #42

These games give the average person the chance to live out a criminal lifestyle with out making the morrally bankrupt choice of really doing it.  The real thing that draws people into a game like Grand Theft Auto is that it actually follows a very interesting story line which is both complex and well written.  The game is based on violence, but the storylines are compelling.  I actually enjoy playing these games, though I haven't bought a new one in some time.  These games are harmless, and the situations are so far from reality that emulating them would be close to impossible.  It's rare Simon, but I disagree with you strongly here buddy.
1:08pm • #43

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Simon Conway

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